LeBron James releases virtual reality film for Oculus and Samsung Gear VR

Earlier this week, the basketball star, in collaboration with Oculus Studios, released his first VR film called Striving for Greatness, which shows James at various points of the day working out, from yoga, to shoot around, to cardio training. Produced by Félix & Paul Studios, the 360-degree video is one of a five-part series called Uninterrupted.

The sports and now film star (Trainwreck) posted a short teaser (below) for the video on his Facebook page and you can download the entire 12-minute film on the Oculus store or via the Samsung Milk VR app.

I was born with God given talent, but I PROMISE you that when the bright lights go down I am grinding it out and working my tail off to get better. I will never cheat this game… Catch the full series on UNINTERRUPTED #StriveForGreatness #UNINTERRUPTED #IPROMISE

James' VR interest is also highlighted in a new Gear VR commercial (top of this page) featuring James offering a glimpse of what you'll see in the VR video, all to the soundtrack of Public Enemy's classic "Welcome to the Terrordome."

Awareness of VR is pretty high among consumers (95%) according a recent Touchstone Research and Greenlight VR report, but those with actual experience with a VR device is still fairly low (35%).

Nevertheless, mixing NBA superstars like James with the social media lubricant of Facebook and the hip-hop cred of Public Enemy will likely stoke more mainstream interest in VR as we move into 2016.

BONUS: Scary Google Street View Sightings

The 20 Scariest Google Street View Images

1. The Aliens Have Landed

The truth isn't out there -- it's right in front of us!

Okay, so this creepy alien is probably just a doll. But doesn't it look a little too lifelike?

5. "Dead Bodies" in a Dumpster

6. Detroit Resident Threatening Google

Reddit user SourCreamWater posted this terrifying image of a Detroit resident pointing a large weapon at the Google vehicle. Google has since blurred out the gun, but Reddit user Free_ nabbed a few clear screenshots before the image was censored. Even more disturbing, a 17-month-old child was found dead in what appears to be the same home just a few months before this image was taken.

12. A Scene From The Birds

13. The Murder Dock

This image set off a media panic when a Redditor first discovered it. The red streak along this dock in the Netherlands looks like evidence of a gruesome murder, but turned out to be a trail of water dragged along the wood by a wet dog. Breathe easy, folks.

14. Did Google Street View Kill a Donkey?

Well, no, they didn't. But it sure looked that way.

Reddit user nelop discovered that in one Street View image, the donkey appeared standing by the side of the road -- but if you turned around, it was lying in the dirt as though the Google car had run it over. Google cleared up the rumor, noting that the photos were actually taken in reverse. The donkey was taking a nice dirt bath in the road first, then sprang up when the Google car passed by.

16. A Broken Face

17. The Tiki Demon of Nancy, France

Reddit user karma_companion found this disconcerting image of an emaciated figure standing on a balcony in France. Although the scraggly-haired, demonic-looking shadow is most likely a tiki statue, Google has since blurred out the image. This has prompted paranormal enthusiasts to question the perfectly rational explanation to this creepy, creepy picture.

18. This Van on Fire

19. A Japanese Ghost Town

Reddit user nafaaan shared this image of the ruins of Hashima, a Japanese island that has been uninhabited for nearly 40 years. Once a mining town with more than 5,000 residents, Hashima was abandoned in the 1970s and is now deemed unsafe for tourists to visit -- even though it's the site of Javier Bardem's lair in Skyfall.

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